But Nissan makes it clear that "emissions-free" is their ultimate goal

Nissan is
in the midst of working on expanding the environmental benefits of
some of its vehicles by using pure electric batteries with no direct
emissions – its efforts appear to be paying off. Of
approximately 19,000
pre-orders and rising, 14,000 are from the United States,
and 90
percent are conquest sales, meaning that Nissan has "stolen"
potential sales or swayed loyal buyers from other auto brands. The
automaker's conquest is "almost without comparison" and
"few vehicles can capably convert loyal buyers over with this
level of authority."

EV
skeptics have stressed concerns about electric vehicles' range and
ability to be driven on long road trips. While there is a growing
infrastructure in certain cities around the world, and EV's like the
Nissan Leaf can travel up to 100 miles with a full charge (under
optimum conditions), Nissan's Senior Vice President for Sales and
Marketing, Brian Carolin, mentioned that "extended range
vehicles could eventually join the pure battery electric Leaf in the
marque's stable."

The Chevrolet
Volt, another one of the featured EV's of 2011, runs 40
miles on an emission-free electric charge, but then travels hundreds
of additional miles on a range-extending gas generator via a single
tank of gas. At the Automotive
News Green Car Conference last week, General
Motors' Director of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Development
Micky Bly noted that his company's approach to EV's was "to make
sure they could be primary vehicles" and that "the Volt is
intended to be a vehicle that can operate emissions-free most of the
time yet still be able to handle road trips when needed." Nissan may
develop a similar range-extending model like this in order
to supply vehicles that the masses will be able to feel comfortable
with.

Those
who have submitted pre-orders for the Leaf have paid a refundable $99
at this point, but some believe as more money and risk is involved
closer to purchase/lease time, the numbers of these pre-orders may
change.

"Paying an extra $500 for a computer in this environment -- same piece of hardware -- paying $500 more to get a logo on it? I think that's a more challenging proposition for the average person than it used to be." -- Steve Ballmer